HNIFF 2023
The Art of Confession
Directed by Aleksandra Svonja · Serbia · 12 min · short · narrative
The Art of Confession chronicles the harrowing yet inspiring journey of Serbian singer and composer Jelena Buca as she bravely recounts her survival of an attempted sexual assault. Through a poignant blend of narration and physical storytelling, Jelena invites us into her world, sharing the depths of her trauma and the resilience of her recovery. Using her music as a powerful tool for healing, she transforms her pain into a message of hope, empowering others to break their silence and find their own paths to recovery.
This film's screening window has ended.
From the director
I created, directed and produced The Art of Confession to contribute to ending violence against women. My goal was to create a platform for women to speak freely and to make their art visible through physical storytelling. The Art of Confession stands for women who share their experiences, empathize, stand up for one another, and use their art to interpret others’ stories. Art is meant to free us, empower us, and provide space to express our feelings and perceptions of everyday life.
For years, I’ve followed the news and annual reports, both locally and globally, and I’ve noticed increasingly discouraging statistics. Through this film, I wanted viewers to experience raw emotion—real pain, suffering, and encouragement to speak up, raise awareness, and protect themselves and others. I aimed for the film to feel deeply personal, as if the viewer were in the room with the victim.
Making this film came with challenges, including numerous interview cancellations from potential participants who were victims of domestic abuse and violence. Ultimately, our protagonist turned out to be a well-known Serbian singer, writer, and songwriter who survived an attempted rape 18 years ago. Today, she not only speaks about her experience but also composed original music for the film, reflecting her own sentiments.
I was inspired by the strength of all the women I spoke to during the preproduction phase, and I continue to be inspired by thousands of courageous women across the world. This film will always hold a special place in my heart because every second is filled with profound emotion. Additionally, it is an almost exclusively all-female project (female director, producer, editor, composer, choreographer, dancer, and translator), which was an incredible experience for me.
I plan to raise funds to create more of these confessions, where victims’ stories are depicted through various forms of art—painting, dance, music, etc. I hope to either make a feature film or produce a series of short ones.
